North Carolina Wrecks · United States · Wreck · Artificial reef
Theodore Parker
A WWII Liberty ship in 18 m, the closest wreck to the beach
A Liberty ship that crossed the Atlantic in the Second World War, struck a mine off England and was finally sunk on purpose off North Carolina in 1974 as an artificial reef. She lies four miles from Beaufort Inlet in 18 m (60 ft) of water with her top deck at 30, close enough inshore that the visibility is poor and the dive stays available when weather stops the offshore boats.
Also known as Liberty Ship.
Where it is and how deep
34.6580° N, 76.7420° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The Theodore Parker is the shortest run on the charter list, four miles southwest of Beaufort Inlet and a mile and a half off the beach. She is a 134-metre Liberty ship (441 feet) resting in 18 m (60 ft) of water with her highest decks at 30, so the whole dive fits between about 9 and 18 metres and there is no pressure on bottom time at all.
The trade for that proximity is the water. Being this close to the beach, visibility is usually 15 to 20 feet (6 m), so you dive her by structure rather than by sight: pick up the deck, follow it, and keep a hand's reach of steel as your reference. Divers who want a big, open view of a hull go offshore for it; this is a dive about working a ship in short visibility.
Her superstructure was cut away before she was sunk so that the second deck became the top deck, which leaves a lower and simpler profile to follow. That, the shallow depth and the short boat ride are why she is the wreck the fleet falls back on when the weather closes the offshore sites.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Theodore Parker
- Type
- Liberty ship
- Length
- 134 m (440 ft)
- Built
- 1943
- Sunk
- 1974
- Cause
- Deliberately sunk for the North Carolina artificial reef programme
- Lies
- Superstructure cut away so the second deck is the highest point, at about 9 m
The ship divers know simply as the Liberty Ship is the Theodore Parker, built in March 1943 and used for several Atlantic crossings during the Second World War. On 16 November 1944 she left Hull, England, bound for New York and struck a mine 121 km (75 miles) from the mouth of the Humber. She survived that war and ended up in state hands: North Carolina bought her in 1974 for its artificial reef programme, cut away her superstructure so that the second deck became her top deck, and sank her on 4 June 1974.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Off-season |
Season follows North Carolina Wrecks: Charter season runs roughly April-November; sand tiger shark aggregations peak in September-October, while December-February seas are too rough for most boats.
Know before you go
- Visibility of 15 to 20 feet (6 m) makes it easy to lose your buddy and the line. Agree a lost-buddy plan, keep contact with the deck and navigate by structure rather than by sight.
- The ship was cut down before sinking and the remaining deck carries snag points and sharp edges. Keep gear streamlined and carry a cutting tool.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Liberty Ship wreck off Beaufort?+
The Theodore Parker rests in 18 m (60 ft) of water with her highest decks at 30 feet, so the dive runs about 9 to 18 metres. The operator rates it a beginner site, though the 15-to-20-foot (6 m) visibility makes it a navigation dive rather than a sightseeing one.
What is the visibility on the Theodore Parker?+
Usually 15 to 20 feet, roughly 4.5 to 6 metres. The wreck sits only a mile and a half off the beach, and the operator puts the short visibility down to exactly that proximity to shore.
Sources
- North Carolina Dive Sites — Discovery Diving
In The Logbook
- Ships sunk on purpose, and where to dive themWrecks · 14 min read
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